Mike & Vickie, Guest BloggersWe are thrilled to introduce two very special guest bloggers, Mike & Vickie, otherwise known as "Mom and Dad" and more recently, "Grammie & Papa"! They just got back from a two week trip to one of our favorite destinations - Bali! For those seeking luxurious getaways - don't miss this review of the Oberoi in Seminyak!!! ~ Eva & Chris

This was our first trip to Bali, and in fact, our first trip to Asia. We had talked about making the trip to Bali for years to visit our friends Paul and Nyoman, whom you may have read about on Chris and Eva's previous Bali posts, and we finally pulled the trigger this year! Before meeting up with said friends, we spent a few wonderful nights at the Oberoi Hotel in Seminyak to work off the jet lag and enjoy the beautiful Balinese beaches. Below is our review of the experience.

Impeccable Service

A very notable standout of our trip was the people that we encountered at the Oberoi, Bali. From General Manager, John Halpin, who greeted us upon our arrival and who, amazingly, hails from a small Massachusetts town only two removed from our own, to Ardinata who, at 35 years, is the longest tenured employee at the Oberoi and who attentively served us breakfast each morning, the staff here is beyond description. Each person who works here, from the G.M. to the interns, clearly conveys a sense of caring and concern about each guest whenever and wherever they are encountered. It, most likely, has to do with what, as Ardinata described it, is a sense of pride and a sense of family among the employees; a culture, if you will, that is carried on from one year to the next, making for a wonderful guest experience.

Since we were celebrating our anniversary, the staff surprised us with a card and arrangement of local treats.

Another personal touch by the amazing staff at the Oberoi.

The Lap of Luxury

Beyond the staff, the Oberoi Bali offers a wonderful property where one can relax and ignore the stress of the real world while enjoying the amenities afforded by, what we consider to be, a 5 star resort.

Amazingly, while enjoying the Oberoi, one would never imagine that immediately outside of its gates (and noticeable security), there is the hustle and bustle of a very busy and congested Seminyak.

We spent our days here alongside of the wonderfully appealing pool where we were promptly greeted by a staff member who efficiently made up our chaise lounges with clean towels and who, moments later returned with a tray containing two bottles of water, two warm towels, sunscreen and water misting spray. There was also a small flag that could be placed upright should we need or desire anything at any time. Truly, the "lap of luxury"! No need to be concerned about leaving the area for hours and returning; lounges were ours for as long as we wanted them.

Each afternoon complimentary sorbets are offered to poolside guests by staff who circulate among the lounges. In addition, at 4 PM, complimentary tea and pastries are offered at the amphitheater adjacent to the pool.

While relaxing on our lounges, we found that there were always staff around which, while never, in any way obtrusive, were there should we want to order a snack or lunch. With over 300 staff and only 74 guest rooms, the staff to guest ratio certainly lends itself to efficient attentiveness.

Here are a couple of shots from our daily breakfast table:

Here is video footage of the relaxing pool area, complete with Bali umbrellas and a perfect breeze off the ocean:

Preserving the Natural Beauty of Bali

Beaches in Bali are almost all public. However, we found that the beach accessed right outside of the Oberoi property was filled with silky smooth white sand and beautiful Indian Ocean water. Unlike the beaches outside of properties to either side of the Oberoi, there were no umbrellas or chairs/chaises on the Oberoi beach; nothing to detract from the natural beauty that nature has provided.

The resort grounds were beautifully decorated with traditional Balinese artwork, architecture and decor.

Oberoi's Culinary Delights

The food at the Oberoi was all terrific. The Nasi Goreng, Bakmi Goreng, Croque Monsieur, Croque Madame, Smoked Tasmanian Salmon and delightful Alaskan King Crab Salad Sandwich were all, epicurean delights that, while certainly of ample quantity, inevitably left one wanting more!

The Oberoi offers two al fresco dining options; a fine dining restaurant requiring reservations and appropriate attire (no shorts or flip flops if you please) and a bar area offering an abundant assortment of appetizers and lighter dishes.

Food prices at the Oberoi, while certainly higher than what can be found outside of its gates in Seminyak, were, in our opinion, reasonable given the locale.

Fresh seafood skewers for breakfast!

Alaskan king crab sandwich for lunch.

The grounds offer a beautiful ambiance for a romantic dinner.

Not Rooms...Private Retreats!

The rooms at the Oberoi are wonderful and capture the natural beauty of the island and its culture; adorned with art from the nearby town of Ubud, known for its artists, who work in a variety of mediums. Ours was a lanai room with a bubbling fountain and fish pool outside of our door. In addition to our large and well appointed bedroom, the accommodation included a large bathroom with a roman tub and stall shower that featured a glass wall and door opening into a private atrium. Each villa comes equipped with a beach bag, slippers and robe. There is also a safe for guest valuables. Laundry services are available and are very reasonable.

Our lanai villa with a beautiful piece of artwork from Ubud above the bed.

The stunning bathroom with Roman tub and private atrium.

Outside of our room was a private patio, bubbling fountain and fish pool. The sound of the fountain was very soothing at night!

Cultural Entertainment & Education

Most evenings at the Oberoi seem to offer some sort of free entertainment or a reasonably priced unique dining experience. As an example, on one of nights there, there was a gourmet buffet served around the amphitheater where theLegong Dance(story) was performed by a renowned group that was brought in from the outside. Both the performance and the food were outstanding.

A gamelan demonstration was one of many cultural performances showcased at the Oberoi.

If you are looking a truly wonderful, relaxing experience where you need not leave the resort, this may be the place for you.